Legislation

In February 2015, Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced the California Desert Conservation & Recreation Act, S.414, which builds on the Senator’s historic California Desert Protection Act, which became law in 1994. The new legislation is designed to protect additional land and help manage California’s desert resources by carefully balancing conservation, recreation and renewable energy development.

The legislation is a consensus document that reflects the many uses of the desert and is the product of years of engagement with relevant stakeholders including environmental groups, local and state government officials, off-highway recreation enthusiasts, cattle ranchers, mining interests, the Department of Defense, wind and solar energy companies, California’s public utility companies and many others.

Creates two new national monuments: — The Mojave Trails National Monument, which would encompass 942,000 acres of land, including former railroad-owned lands. — The Sand to Snow National Monument, which would encompass 135,000 acres of land from desert floor in the Coachella Valley to the top of Mount San Gorgonio.